The first half leans into chaos in the best way, building a string of awkward, funny situations around a wedding that keeps spiralling out of control. It’s entertaining because the film understands timing, each moment escalates just enough to keep you curious about what could possibly go wrong next.

Movie Review | Project Hail Mary

The problem is, it can’t sustain that momentum. As the story moves forward, the humour starts to thin out, and the writing becomes noticeably less precise. What begins as a dark, slightly offbeat comedy drifts into something more uneven. Instead of building on the characters and their conflicts, the film leans on louder, more exaggerated moments that feel forced rather than funny. There’s a shift from wit to noise, and it doesn’t quite land.

Visually, though, the film holds up. The cinematography gives everything a polished, almost glossy feel, which keeps it watchable even when the narrative begins to drag. There’s a clear effort to make the film look appealing, even if the script underneath doesn’t always match that level of care. The dialogue, in particular, often feels thin; there are stretches where conversations don’t reveal much, leaving the actors to fill in the gaps.

Performance-wise, there’s still enough to hold onto. Zendaya brings a quiet control to her role, often relying on subtle expressions rather than big moments, while Pattinson is more effective when the film allows him to tap into vulnerability. Together, they keep the emotional core from completely slipping, even when the writing struggles to support them.

At its heart, the film circles around relationships, what we carry from the past, and when it’s time to let go. It gestures towards something meaningful, but never fully commits to exploring it.
In the end, it works in fragments rather than as a whole. It’s an easy watch, but once it’s over, there’s not much that lingers.